DALLAS (AP) Down by 13 points with less than 10 minutes remaining, youthful Oklahoma City could have easily have been content knowing they could go home for a Game 5 still needing to win only one more game.
The Thunder, with their 20-something All-Star duo Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, are instead going home to wait and see who they will play next.
And it was their other emerging star who led the way.
#2 Oklahoma City Thunders vs #7 Dallas Mavericks
Thunders eliminated Mavericks from playoffs, win series 4-0 Published on May 5, 2012 by ESPN
James Harden scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, including nine in a 12-0 run, and the Thunder rallied for a 103-97 victory Saturday night to complete a first-round series sweep of the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.
"I got into attack mode. I was determined to make plays," Harden said.
"He was phenomenal," said Durant, who scored 24 points. "His pick and roll game is unreal. It's fun to watch, fun to be part of. The best part about our team is that we have a lot of guys who can play off each other, and we complement each other well."
Stephen Hawkins is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
in my opinion, thunders is the best team in the nba. led by kevin durant, hopefully they'll win the title.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Manu Ginobili broke out of his shooting slump with 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to an 87-81 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night and a sweep of their first-round Western Conference series.
Ginobili was 0 for 8 from beyond the arc in the first three games. But after Utah pulled within 61-58 with 3:18 left in the third, he hit consecutive 3-pointers then added another as the Spurs regained control, taking a 76-58 lead early in the fourth.
The Jazz went scoreless for more than 8 minutes during a 15-0 Spurs run. Utah made a furious charge late and was within 83-79 on Al Jefferson's putback with 49 seconds left.
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Utah Jazz
Spurs eliminated Jazz from playoffs, win series 4-0 Published on May 7, 2012 by ESPN
But Ginobili's fastbreak layup after a steal by Tony Parker sealed it.
Utah's Big 3 lineup with Derrick Favors at power forward kept the Jazz close, but San Antonio's bench made the difference, outscoring the Jazz's reserves 47-10.
Top-seeded San Antonio advanced to the second round and awaits the winner of the Memphis-Los Angeles Clippers series, which may not be settled until Sunday.
The Spurs are on a 14-game winning streak and looking to make amends for a first-round upset by Memphis last year.
The Jazz have lost eight straight playoff games as they were swept by the Lakers in the second round two years ago. It was only the second first-round sweep in Jazz history, the other coming in 1989.
Lynn DeBruin is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Salt Lake City, Utah
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) It was just like old times at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Finally.
After years of losing and players finding trouble, the Indiana Pacers finally gave their fans something to really cheer about. Danny Granger scored 25 points to help the Pacers defeat the Orlando Magic 105-87 on Tuesday night and clinch their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-1.
"I'm just so happy for our fans," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "They've endured a lot those years when we struggled. To finally see us come back and have a winning team again and somebody that has a chance to do something special this year. That's what they deserve. Pacers basketball is back."
#3 Indiana Pacers vs #6 Orlando Magic
Pacers eliminated Magic from playoffs, win series 4-1 Published on May 8, 2012 by ESPN
The Pacers will play Miami or New York in the second round. Miami leads that series 3-1, and as the final minutes ticked away, fans began chanting, "Beat the Heat."
"It was electric," Granger said. "The crowd was crazy. They had a lot of momentum going. They pushed us in that fourth quarter."
It was a tough series for Orlando, which played all five games without All-Star center Dwight Howard because of a back injury. They took the opener, then watched Indiana put together its first series win since 2005 and its first clincher on its home court since the first round of the 2000 playoffs. No player on Indiana's roster had won a playoff series while playing for the Pacers.
Cliff Brunt is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Indianapolis, Indiana
MIAMI (AP) The final horn sounded, and LeBron James wrapped his arms around Carmelo Anthony in a warm embrace.
Their head-to-head scoring matchup in this series was even, 139 points apiece.
Just about everything else tipped Miami's way - so the Heat are moving on and the New York Knicks are going home.
James had 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both scored 19 points and the Heat ousted the shorthanded Knicks 106-94 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series Wednesday night.
#2 Miami Heats vs #7 New York Knicks
Heats eliminated Knicks from playoffs, win series 4-1 Published on May 9, 2012 by ESPN
The Heat won the series 4-1, and will meet Indiana in the East semifinals starting Sunday in Miami.
"We do not take this for granted," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "This was a tough series. We feel very good about moving on and it'll only get tougher from here."
For the Heat, it was only the first step. The reigning East champions have one goal - getting back to the finals and winning it all - and that was likely why even beating the franchise's longtime rival prompted, at most, a subdued celebration.
Tim Reynolds is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Miami, Florida
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Andre Iguodala hopped on the scorer's table and played to the crowd as the catchy 76ers' anthem blared in the arena.
His teammates joined Iguodala and danced along as confetti fluttered around them.
"Number one, Philadelphia. Here they come, team of the year."
Team of the first round, for sure.
Eight years of going home empty in April is over. The Sixers at last had a reason to go wild.
#1 Chicago Bulls vs #8 Philadelphia 76ers
76ers eliminated Bulls from playoffs, win series 4-2 Published on May 10, 2012 by ESPN
Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left and Philadelphia rallied for a 79-78 victory over the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 6 on Thursday night, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003.
The 76ers will face Boston, which beat Atlanta in six games, in the conference semifinals.
"I don't know how we won this game," coach Doug Collins said.
Collins and the Sixers hardly cared the series win comes with an asterisk.
The Bulls lost reigning MVP Derrick Rose to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late in their Game 1 win. Center Joakim Noah missed the last three games with a sprained left ankle.
Dan Gelston is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Greater Philadelphia Area, Pennsylvania
BOSTON (AP) Kevin Garnett had 28 points and 14 rebounds, hitting a jumper to give Boston the lead with 31 seconds left, and the Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks 83-80 in Game 6 on Thursday night to win their first-round playoff series and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the fifth straight year.
The Celtics will play the Philadelphia 76ers, who eliminated East No. 1 seed Chicago in six games with a 79-78 victory earlier Thursday.
Garnett topped his regular-season high of 25 points and had five blocks and three steals for Boston, which has won at least one playoff series every year since the new Big 3 was assembled. Paul Pierce had 18 points despite playing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, and Rajon Rondo had 14 points and eight assists.
Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks power forward Josh Smith (5) and center Al Horford (15) during the first quarter of Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Boston, Thursday, May 10, 2012. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
Josh Smith had 19 points and nine rebounds for Atlanta, which failed to advance in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Joe Johnson had 17 points, Marvin Williams added 16 and eight rebounds and Al Horford had 15 points and nine rebounds.
But Horford missed the first of two foul shots with 2.3 seconds left after he was tackled by Marquis Daniels to avoid an easy dunk that would have tied the game. After he made the second, the Celtics got the ball to Pierce, he was fouled and made both free throws.
The Celtics will open the second round against Philadelphia in Boston on Saturday night. The crowd burst into a cheer - even the Celtics players were checking it out - near the end of the third quarter when the final play of the Sixers-Bulls game was shown on the scoreboard.
Jimmy Golen is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Greater Boston Area, Massachusetts
LOS ANGELES (AP) Pau Gasol was consumed by determination, holding off Kenneth Faried with one arm and relentlessly tipping the ball at the hoop with the other in the fourth quarter of Game 7. One, two, three, four - five! - offensive rebounds later, the ball finally surrendered and dropped through the hoop.
A few minutes later, the truth was as undeniable as that 7-foot Spaniard. Although the Nuggets drove them to the brink of playoff collapse, the Los Angeles Lakers still have the tenacity to win on the biggest nights of the postseason.
Even when Kobe Bryant doesn't lead them.
#3 Los Angeles Lakers vs #6 Denver Nuggets
Lakers eliminated Nuggets from playoffs, win series 4-3 Published on May 12, 2012 by ESPN
Gasol had 23 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots, Metta World Peace scored 15 points in his return from a seven-game suspension, and the Lakers outlasted Denver for a thrilling 96-87 victory Saturday night to win their first-round series.
Steve Blake scored a playoff career-high 19 points and Bryant had a quiet 17 points and eight assists against regular double-teams for the Lakers, who blew a 16-point lead in the second half before surviving a finale with wild momentum swings and furious physical play.
With Gasol leading the Lakers' emotional effort - exemplified by those five offensive rebounds on a single, unbelievable tip play with 7:10 left - the Lakers narrowly avoided becoming the ninth team in NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead.
Greg Beacham is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Los Angeles, California
congrats to the lakers and their fans. lots of celebrities near the court side.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) The Los Angeles Clippers refused to let a third chance to knock the Memphis Grizzlies out of the playoffs slip away.
Kenyon Martin scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, and the Clippers advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with an 82-72 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 7 on Sunday.
"That's why it's seven games," Martin said. "If you don't do it before, you get another chance. So they did what they had to do, they came and stole home court back on our floor. ... We had a chance to close it out. We knew we let it go, an opportunity get away."
#4 Memphis Grizzlies vs #5 Los Angeles Clippers
Clippers eliminated Grizzlies from playoffs, win series 4-3 Published on May 13, 2012 by ESPN
The Clippers blew an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter Friday night. So Martin huddled the Clippers together at the start of the fourth quarter Sunday, and the veteran led the bench in outscoring the Grizzlies 25-16. Chris Paul had the only bucket by a starter in the final 12 minutes, and the Clippers' bench outscored the Memphis reserves 41-11 overall.
"Our bench was our MVP," Clippers guard Randy Foye said. "They realized what they had to do. We had a lot of guys hurt, so we just continued to grind."
Now, the Clippers have their third postseason series win in 41 years and their second since relocating to Los Angeles. They last beat Denver in 2006. The Clippers also avoided becoming the ninth NBA team to blow a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series in moving on to play the top-seeded Spurs starting Tuesday night in San Antonio
Teresa M. Walker is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Nashville, Tennessee
LOS ANGELES (AP) The San Antonio Spurs mowed down another opponent, using their guile under pressure to close out another perfect playoff series.
Tim Duncan scored 21 points, Tony Parker added 17 and the Spurs beat the Los Angeles Clippers 102-99 on Sunday night to win their second-round matchup 4-0 and advance to the Western Conference finals.
"They played great, they made it tough on us," Parker said. "The last 2 minutes we got the stops we needed. Everybody did something."
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #5 Los Angeles Clippers
Spurs eliminated Clippers from playoffs, win series 4-0 Published on May 20, 2012 by ESPN
The Spurs extended their winning streak to 18 games and their playoff record to 8-0, tying the third-best postseason streak in franchise history.
"Until we go all the way, I can't compare this team," said Parker, who has won three NBA titles with the Spurs. "We're just trying to stay focused."
Danny Green and Gary Neal added 14 points each, and Manu Ginobili and Thiago Splitter had 11 each.
"We needed a game like that. It arrived at the perfect time," Parker said. "We battled. We executed our plays, made big baskets."
San Antonio could find out as soon as Monday night who it will play next. Oklahoma City leads the Lakers 3-1 in their series, with Game 5 on Monday.
Beth Harris is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Los Angeles, California
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Ramon Sessions did the best he could to keep Russell Westbrook from making a high-flying dunk that would energize the Oklahoma City Thunder.
No matter.
Even with his feet flat on the ground, Westbrook found a way to get the Thunder rolling past the Los Angeles Lakers and into the Western Conference finals for the second straight year.
After Sessions committed a foul to stop him on the fast break, Westbrook flipped the ball up toward the rim and got it to go in for what would become a three-point play. Westbrook took off toward the scorer's table, pumping his fist as the home crowd celebrated.
There was no turning back after that, and Oklahoma City pulled away for a 106-90 victory in Game 5 on Monday night to knock the Lakers out of the playoffs.
#2 Oklahoma City Thunders vs #3 Los Angeles Lakers
Thunders eliminated Lakers from playoffs, win series 4-1 Published on May 21, 2012 by ESPN
"That was an amazing play," coach Scott Brooks said. "Obviously, there's a lot of luck to that. You put yourself in that position to get a little lucky there."
"I thought from that point on, we really played with great energy on the offensive end, moved the ball and made shots."
Westbrook finished with 28 points, Kevin Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds and the two All-Stars skipped their usual rest periods to power the Thunder ahead in the second half.
After Westbrook's pair of three-point plays fueled a 14-3 burst that put Oklahoma City ahead to stay late in the third quarter, Durant hit two 3-pointers as the Thunder scored the first 10 points of the fourth to push their lead to 93-77.
Jeff Latzke is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) There was nothing soft about Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Wade scored 41 points, LeBron James chipped in 28 and the Heat finished off the Indiana Pacers, locking up a return trip to the Eastern Conference finals with a 105-93 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night.
The Heat wrapped up the best-of-7 series and will face either Boston or Philadelphia in the next round starting in Miami on Monday. Of course, nothing less than an NBA title will make for a satisfying summer in South Beach.
Two series down, two to go.
#2 Miami Heat vs #3 Indiana Pacers
Heat eliminated Pacers from playoffs, win series 4-2 Published on May 24, 2012 by ESPN
The Heat rallied from an early 11-point deficit, riding the hot hand of Wade in the opening half. He scored 26 points by the break, tying Tim Hardaway's 16-year-old franchise record for most playoff points in the first two quarters. James hit consecutive baskets with just over a minute remaining to close it out.
Next up, the Celtics or surprising 76ers. The Heat will get a much-needed chance to relax before worrying about the next opponent, which will be determined in Game 7 at Boston on Saturday.
David West led Indiana with 24 points and all five starters were in double figures. But that balance was overwhelmed by Wade and James.
Paul Newberry is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Atlanta, Georgia
BOSTON (AP) To Doug Collins, Boston's Big Three is already a memory.
"I don't look at them as the Big Three. I look at them as the Championship Four," the Philadelphia coach said. "Because if you're going to leave Rondo out, you're making a huge mistake."
Rajon Rondo helped his aging teammates keep their season going Saturday night, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 7 against the 76ers to lead Boston to an 85-75 victory and into an Eastern Conference finals matchup with the Miami Heat.
The Celtics will open the third round of the NBA playoffs in Miami on Monday night.
#4 Boston Celtics vs #8 Philadelphia 76ers
Celtics eliminated 76ers from playoffs, win series 4-3 Published on May 27, 2012 by ESPN
"I've already packed," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We'll be ready. It's going to be a tough turnaround, but we're not an excuse team. We'll be ready on Monday."
Bouncing back from his worst game of the playoffs - and snapping out of a 32-minute slump in which he had just two assists and five points - Rondo scored nine straight Boston points after Paul Pierce fouled out to help the Celtics turn a three-point edge into a double-digit lead.
Rondo had 11 points in the fourth quarter, including his first 3-pointer in five games, made all four of his free throws down the stretch and grabbed his 10th rebound in the final minute - chucking it over his head and into the frontcourt to help the Celtics dribble down the clock.
Jimmy Golen is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Greater Boston Area, Massachusetts
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) For all the points, rebounds and assists that filled Kevin Durant's impressive stat line, it was a defensive play he made that fired up his coach and teammates.
"That's his first charge of the year," Russell Westbrook interjected when Durant was asked about drawing an offensive foul against Manu Ginobili in the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City's 107-99 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday night.
Indeed, it was.
The league's three-time scoring champion had 34 points and 14 rebounds while playing all of regulation for the first time all season, leading the Thunder into the NBA finals. But it was taking that charge that got his team pumped up.
#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #2 Oklahoma City Thunders
Thunder eliminated Suprs from playoffs, win series 4-2 Published on June 6, 2012 by ESPN
Durant stepped in front of Ginobili's drive during a 3 1/2-minute scoreless stretch by San Antonio that allowed Oklahoma City to take the lead for good.
"I just wanted to go out there and sacrifice my body for my team. I knew that would give us a little spark," Durant said.
"Manu's an unbelievable player at twisting his body and making crazy shots, so I just wanted to time it right. It felt good to get that for my team and I could tell they were excited that I got my first one when I looked at the bench."
Westbrook added 25 points for the Thunder, who trailed by 18 in the first half and erased a 15-point halftime deficit.
The Thunder took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter, getting nine of their first 13 points on free throws as the fouls started to pile up for San Antonio - six on the defensive end and three on the offensive end in the first 7 minutes.
Jeff Latzke is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
congrats to the thunder and their fans. youth served!
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) There was nothing soft about Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
MIAMI (AP) LeBron James finally got a Game 7 victory, on his third try.
Next up, the NBA finals - and his third try at that elusive first championship. A year after watching someone else celebrate on their home floor, the Miami Heat were the ones dancing at midcourt.
James had 31 points and 12 rebounds, Chris Bosh hit a career-best three 3-pointers - the last sparking the run that put it away - and the Heat won their second straight Eastern Conference title by beating the Boston Celtics 101-88 in Game 7 on Saturday night.
Miami opens the title series in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night. The Heat got there by outscoring Boston 28-15 in the fourth quarter, with the ''Big Three'' of Dwyane Wade, Bosh and James scoring every Miami point.
#2 Miami Heat vs #4 Boston Celtics
Heat eliminated Celtics from playoffs, win series 4-3 Published on June 9, 2012 by ESPN
"We decided to come together and play together for a reason," Wade said.
Wade scored 23 points, Bosh finished with 19 and Shane Battier added 12 for the Heat, who won a Game 7 for the first time since 2004 - Wade's rookie season. Now it's back to the finals, where Miami fell in six games to Dallas a year ago.
Rajon Rondo finished with 22 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds for Boston, which got 19 points from Paul Pierce in what might be the last game of the "Big Four" era for the Celtics.
Boston took out its starters with 28.3 seconds left. By then, workers already had a rope around the perimeter of the court, preparing for the East trophy presentation.
"Give them credit," Rondo said. "They spread the points out as a team tonight. Give them credit. They played great tonight as a team and we just came up short."
Tim Reynolds is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in Miami, Florida
MIAMI (AP) Music blared and confetti fell, the only celebration LeBron James really wanted in Miami.
Not that one two summers ago, the welcoming rally where he boasted of multiple titles, perhaps without realizing how hard it would be to win just one.
He dreamed of this moment, with teammates surrounding him and the NBA championship trophy beside him.
"You know, my dream has become a reality now, and it's the best feeling I ever had," James said.
James had 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, leading the Miami Heat in a 121-106 rout of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night to win the NBA Finals in five games.
Ripped and ridiculed for the way he announced he was leaving Cleveland and taking his talents to South Beach, it's all worth it now for James.
#2 Miami Heat vs #2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Heat eliminated Thunder to win NBA title, win series 4-1 Published on June 21, 2012 by ESPN
Best player in the game. Best team in the league.
And now, NBA champion.
"I'm happy now that eight years later, nine years later since I've been drafted, that I can finally say that I'm a champion, and I did it the right way," James said. "I didn't shortcut anything. You know, I put a lot of hard work and dedication in it, and hard work pays off. It's a great moment for myself."
And for his teammates, who watched the Dallas Mavericks celebrate on their floor last year.
James left the game along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for good with 3:01 remaining for a round of hugs and the start for a party he's been waiting for since arriving in the NBA out of high school as the No. 1 pick of the 2003 draft. James hopped up and down in the final minutes, shared a long hug with opponent Kevin Durant, and then soaked in the ''MVP! MVP! chants during the raucous postgame.
Brian Mahoney is an Associated Press Sports Writer based in New York
Post time 15-6-2009 10:41 AM
Heat eliminated Thunder to win NBA title, win series 4-1 
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